Look under the guitar on the endplate at the changer end. It should be stamped into the bottom of the casting.

If there is no serial number imprinted your guitar might have been manufactured prior to 1966.

Mike CassMember

From: Nashville,Tn. U.S.A.

posted 05 May 2002 11:30 PM
profileI'll do this chronologically from '64 on....if its has a # stamped om the keyhead e/p face & it looks something like this : XX 64 0XX...thats a '64.(month/year/guitar #).Invoice numbers were next, apparently starting at some point in '65 & they seem to have begun around 1000....those #'s were also stamped in the keyhead e/p face or ledge & sometimes stamped in the wood next to the leg socket. The highest invoice # p/p Ive seen was in the upper 2000's.Next, in '67 or thereabouts, the ser# followed by a D was instituted. This ser# system for D-10's continued until the end of p/p production & may have even included some early LeGrandes, but dont quote me on that I should add here, that having bought a new p/p in '69, & seeing that ser# & a few others belonging to original owners & seeing their original reciepts tends to affirm my opinion on this time frame. Also,during the course of restoring a number of wraparounds, bolt on's etc., I have kept a log of which design changes corresponded with which ser# sequences.Numbers beginning in !0XX D would most likely be late '66 or early '67 & can include both the bolt-on changer & the first cuttail types. In 1970 the flatback was introduced. It's ser # run started around 1300 D & went as high as 17-1800 D, or thereabouts. From there, you have the re-introduction of the cutback model sometime in '74, which continued until the end of p/p production in the 80's. So,1800 D & up...74 on.That about wraps it up hope this helps.mc

To augment his correct and very complete answer only slightly, the serial number on two guitars I own or have owned... 1164007W and 1164008W..., were found on the changer endplate. 1264018 is stamped on the tuner endplate. The serial number on 5065023 is stamped on the rear apron edge next to the leg socket of the tuner endplate. 5065023 is also the latest serial number I've found with the month/year/guitar numbering scheme, though there could be later guitars out there with this style of serialization.

I've compiled a (very incomplete) list of serial numbers of early (64-68) Emmons D10 guitars that I've run across or had information supplied to me by their owners. If any readers out there have wraparounds or bolt-on guitars and care to share the serial numbers with me and the guitar's characteristics, I'd be very grateful if I could add the information to my informal list.

Jeff, your answer was the soul of brevity, but somehow lacking in informational content.

posted 06 May 2002 05:31 PM
profileJay, is it a lacquer or mica finish? I believe they continued the flatback on lacquer cabinets for a time after discontinuing that feature on the mica guitars.As I said, my number info is based on what Ive seen & what I know to be accurate. However, there should be some flexibility taken into account(give or take 5-6 months) when attempting to date a p/p steel by my method, as the exact dates & production totals are unknown to me.

Jerry RollerMember

From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA

posted 06 May 2002 05:50 PM
profileHerb, for your information as you requested I have D10 black P/P which has stamped on the ledge of the changer end SY NO 2637. I am not sure of what year it was built.Jerry

Herb SteinerMember

From: Cedar Valley, Travis County TX

posted 06 May 2002 06:18 PM
profileJerryAccording to my list, your guitar would be a bolt-on mfg'd. in 1966. Is it a bolt-on?

posted 22 August 2006 01:12 PM
profileThis is in response to Mike Cass' post above.I'm no expert on any of this but here's my info. I own an Flatback PP, #1974D, I was told it was made in 1975.

I post this because Mike noted that Flatbacks stopped in '74, around serial no, 1800. I have also seen posted here on this forum that you could get a flatback if you asked for it, and that it was kinda common to see flatbacks after 1974.

posted 22 August 2006 04:22 PM
profileOkay, so is there anyone who can please, please tell me when a D-12 p/p cutback cuttail with a serial# 145D12BGE was made... Pretty please?

Mike CassMember

From: Nashville,Tn. U.S.A.

posted 22 August 2006 08:43 PM
profileAs I said in the earlier post, my time frame could be off 5-6 months for the reasons I stated. Therefore, your guitar could be from early '75 or so. I bought a brand spankin' new D-10 p/p from Devere's in Indianola Iowa in late '75. It was a rosewood cutback, ser# in the very low 2000's. And although Ive never heard about flatbacks being an option after the original production run, anything is possible.Duane, on that D-12, Id be very curious to know the nature of the 3 letters at the end of that ser#: BGE..... sounds familiar

Duane ReeseMember

From: Salt Lake County, Utah

posted 22 August 2006 09:39 PM
profile"BGE"... Kind of reminds one of "Buddy Gene Emmons", but it's probably a coincedence. Actually, now that you mention it, on this guitar the serial number is stamped in right below the E9th tuning screws, and stamped in below the C6th tuning screws you find this: "CUST. BLT. FOR B.G. EMMONS". I wouldn't thing that this was one of Buddy's personal guitars at any point, but that's and interesting thing nonetheless. I bought the guitar from Len Cascia a little over a year ago.

Rick JohnsonMember

From: Wheelwright, Ky USA

posted 23 August 2006 04:38 AM
profileI own a lacquer wood neck Fatback P/P S/N 2078. I think its a '75 model.I bought it in 1985from Bobbe Seymour, he told me thatHal previously owned this guitar too.My serial number is stamped on theinside of the endplate, right around the input jack. There is a picture of iton my website.